addiscombe.org

by **Andrew G** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:07 pm

In short, extremely.

For those who weren't following cycling in the early/mid 90's or those who just want to enjoy it again...

Pre-UCI bans the "funny" bikes, the superman position, and the fastest individual pursuit. Just look how damn quick he laps the track, and Collinelli was no slouch. - [url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NiM94C0nGW0]HERE[/url]

The greatest ever prologue ride? 1994 Tour debut and the fastest (ave. speed) one ever clocked (think it still is). - [url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OjJ60Kx2j8I&feature=related]HERE[/url]

by **-Adam-** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:46 pm

Sorry, but the super man position!! It's just quite frankly, bloody ridiculous!

by **Andrew G** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:55 pm

Not the most aesthetically pleasing but quick. Another Obree invention through lateral thinking, after the UCI banned his skiers tuck position he came up with the superman - aero and opens the lungs up much more. Boardman used it for his hour record which put it on the shelf after the UCI banned the position and bikes for general competition use. In theory you can still train up and try and beat that record with a lotus style bike (or an espada which is what the pinerello was called I think) and a superman position if you want, but I can't think of anyone who'd be able to do it even with the equipment.
[img]http://www.fatnick.com/hour38.jpg[/img]
[quote]Boardman gets record
Britain's Chris Boardman smashed the world hour record by more than a kilometre on Friday in Manchester's indoor velodrome.
He covered 56.3759 km in a solo ride against the clock that started nervously and built to a crescendo of triumph as the 3,500 capacity crowd roared him on.
Boardman, aiming for the 1994 mark of 55.291 km set by Switzerland's Tony Rominger in Bordeaux, France, was ahead after the first five kilometres. Maintaining a 56 kph pace, he was 34 seconds faster through 30 km.
At that point he was also well inside the schedule he set when he first took the record from compatriot Graeme Obree in Bordeaux three years ago.
``I was apprehensive and nervous at the start, and I never thought that to beat it by so much was possible,'' said Boardman. ``Perhaps 55.54 but not these figures.
``I had to ease my arms and back during the ride because of my position,'' said Boardman who has adopted Obree's ``Superman'' -- arms outstretched -- riding style.
``I had to adjust my position during tests this week, because I discovered that after 20 kilometres I was cramping in my arms. It seems the shoulder muscles were having to support my body, so I made a change so that the weight was taken by my skeleton. My arms gave me a lot of trouble but it was worth it.''
Among the first to congratulate Boardman was Belgium's Eddy Merckx who set the world hour mark 24 years ago in Mexico.
Last week on the same fast track, the British rider set two world 4,000 metres marks on his way to the world pursuit championship.
The record has made up for a disappointing Tour de France when Boardman was weakened by a viral infection.
``After that I wanted three things. A world title, the world hour record, and now the world time trial crown.''
Next month in Lugano, Switzerland he tries for the treble, buoyed by Friday's performance which left him and his trainer Peter Keen astonished.
``I was shocked by it,'' said Keen. Boardman said: ``I had scheduled to go for 55.750 km and I thought that it would be difficult to maintain that pace.
``This is my personal limit. I don't want to ever do it again, and these figures will make other contenders think twice.
``The crowd had a great effect. Every time they got louder I went faster. I had to be careful not to over-cook it.''

by **mrP(Boonen)VT** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:37 pm

I have heard many times - it is the rider, not the bike....and to a great extent, this is true - Hutch would probably leave us standing on a shopping bike....but I find it astonishing the difference of the (almost directly comparable) record that Boardman set on his standard position track bike - 6.935 (almost 7km 4.2mph an hour faster with all the aero aids etc - 14% improvement)

Put into perspective - from an hour for a 25 down to 51:36!!!

Guru P